Mission

The Department of Classics, Archaeology, and Religion is dedicated to teaching and research on classical cultures and a global span of religions. Through the critical study of ancient, medieval, and modern cultures, and using a wide range of methodologies, we examine the ideas and practices that have shaped and continue to shape societies worldwide. Central to our approach is first-hand knowledge of people, material culture, and texts in the original languages and in translation. The department houses undergraduate (B.A.) programs in Ancient Mediterranean Studies and in Religious Studies, as well as graduate programs (M.A. and Ph.D.) in Ancient Mediterranean Studies.

History

The Department of Classics, Archaeology, and Religion was established in 2021 through the merger of the Departments of Ancient Mediterranean Studies and Religious Studies. The latter was created at the University of Missouri in 1981, while Ancient Mediterranean Studies was formed in 2017 as a continuation of the Department of Classical Studies, a discipline that has been integral to the University’s curriculum since the foundation of the University of Missouri in 1839. The renaming of 2017 recognized the incorporation of Classical Archaeology, whose formal instruction began at the University of Missouri in the 1890s, into the Department of Classical Studies.